Electrode fastening device



p 19, 1967 D. G. NOILESAETAL 3,343,028

ELECTRODE FASTENING DEVI CE Filed Nov. 25, 1964 INVEN-TORS Douglos G-Noiles 8 Donald A. Boylun ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,343,028 ELECTRODE FASTENING DEVICE Douglas G. Noiles, New Canaan, Conn, and Donald A.

Boylan, Erwin, N.Y., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 413,706 6 Claims. (Cl. 313-460) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In an electron discharge device having grid members with leg members and lateral members in which said leg members pass through apertures provided in spacer members and in which the lateral members of said grid members must be accurately positioned with respect to the laterals of another grid, a locking means for firmly securing the grid leg members to the spacer members. The locking means provided with a key portion secured within a keyway portion connected with the aperture through which said grid leg member passes and extensions from said key portion of said locking means for bearing on both the upper and lower surface of the spacer member to securely lock the locking means to the spacer member. The grid leg member being welded to said locking means after alignment of the lateral members.

This invention relates to electron discharge devices and more particularly to mounting structures for said electron discharge devices.

One of the major problems encountered in manufacturing certain electron tubes is that of maintaining the grid electrodes in their axially aligned relationship under conditions of construction, manufacture and operation of the tube. This is particularly so in certain beam power tubes where it is a practice to minimize the second grid electrode current to plate current ratio. This may be accomplished by having the lateral wire of the second grid at the same pitch as those of the first grid and by having lateral wire of the second grid aligned with that of the first grid so that the lateral wire is shadowed from the cathode by the lateral wire of the first grid.

In the common receiving tube electrode cage construction, the first grid and second grid are maintained in spaced relationship to each other and to the cathode by insulating spacers of a material such as mica. During assembly of the cage, the grids are manually adjusted to their proper axial position to establish the desired lateral wire alignment between the grid electrodes.

In the prior art, there are several methods of securing the grid electrodes in their axial position with respect to each other. For example, the stem lead-in member which is secured to the grid electrode may be bent to adjust the lateral or axial position of the grid. Another procedure is to provide fastening or locking means on the spacer members which secure the grid electrodes to the mica spacer. There are several of these fastening devices known in the art but they all suffer from disadvantages and it is accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide an improved means for securing electrodes of an ,in an electron discharge device.

Briefly, the present invention accomplishes the above 'type, 40 turns of lateral wire are ice cited objects by providing a locking member of a simple construction secured to the grid electrode and secured to a spacer element adjacent the grid electrode.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds and features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partly in section of an electron tube incorporating the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower surface of the electrode cage of the electron tube shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a locking member and a spacer member of the electron tube shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged partial cross-section view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2 illustrating the locking means and the spacer member of the electron tube shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified locking member; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 showing another modified locking member.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an electron tube having a generally tubular shaped envelope 10 enclosing an electrode mount or cage 12. The electrode mount or cage 12 includes a cathode 14. The cathode 14 consists of a sleeve member having an electron 'emissive coating (not shown) on the outer surface thereof and a heater 17 positioned within the sleeve 14.

A first grid electrode 20 which may be of a wound type surrounds the cathode 14. The grid 20 includes two parallel side rod members 22 and a lateral grid wire 24 which included a plurality of turns supported and secured on said side rod members 22. A second grid electrode 26 surrounds the first grid 20 and also consists of two parallel side rods 28 and a plurality of parallel turns of lateral wire 30 wound about and supported and secured on side rods 28. The two grids 20 and 26 may be manufactured in any conventional manner. One method is to form the grid on a rotary type grid machine in which the side rod members are rotated while the lateral wire is wound thereon and secured by notching and peening. In the specific embodiment shown, the pitch of the lateral wires 24 and 28 on the grids 20 and 26 is the same as illustrated in FIG. 1, with the lateral wires 24 and 30 aligned. The spacing between the turns of lateral wires 24 and 28 and the number of turns is reduced from the actual member in FIG. 1 for purposes of illustration. In one specific tube provided per inch. The diameter of the lateral gridwire would be of about 0.003 inch and the accuracy allocation of the laterals of each of the two grids to eifect the alignment would be plus or minus .001 inch. The diameter of the side rods 22 and 28 would be about .050 inch.

A beam forming electrode 34 is positioned exterior of the second grid 26 and an anode 39 is positioned around the beam forming electrode 34 to collect the electrons emitted from the cathode 14 after passing through the grids 20, 26 and the beam forming electrode 34.

Two parallel insulating spacer members or plates 36 and 38 of a suitable material such as mica and having a plurality of apertures therein are positioned on the opposite end of the electrode members 14, 20, 26, 34 and 39. The electrode members are secured between the spacers 36 and 38 by suitable means to form the electrode cage 12. The

outer periphery of the spacer members 36 and 38 abuts against the envelope wall 10' to aid in positioning the elec- 3 trode mount 12 within the envelope 10. The electrode mount 12 is also supported by lead-in members 37 from the base portion 41 of the envelope 10. The lead-in members 37 also supply the voltage to the electrodes within the envelope and are connected to exterior pins 43.

The side rod supports 22 and 28 extend through apertures 52 provided in the bottom spacer 30. The aperture 52 includes an electrode receiving portion 54 which has a diameter of about .051 and a connecting keyway portion 56. The dimensions of the keyway opening is about .023 inch in width and .011 inch in depth. Locking membars 50 are afiixed to portions of each side rod supports 22 and 28 of the grids 2t and 26 adjacent the lower spacer member 38 and are secured to the support rods 22 and 28 by suitable techniques such as spot welding. The locking members 50 extend through the apertures 52 provided in the spacer member 38 and are seated in the keyway 56.

The locking member 50 which may be of a material such as silver consists of a body portion 58 having a length of .075 inch, a width of .050 inch and a thickness of .010. A central tongue like member 62 extends from the body portion 58. The tongue member 62 includes a key portion 64 and a key extension or locking portion 66. The tongue member 62 had a width of .022 inch and a length of 0.57 inch. The tongue portion 62 has a width of about .022 inch and a thickness of .010 inch which permits it to fit into the keyway 56. The length of the key portion 64 that lies in the same plane as the body member 58 and between the transverse members 66 and 60 is about .015, the "thickness of the spacer 38. Two prong members 60 also extend from the body portion 58. The prong members 60 have a length of about .058 inch and a width of about .014 inch. The prong members 60 are in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the body portion 58.

In the fabrication of the electrode cage, the spacer member 38 is provided and the locking members 50 are inserted into the apertures 52. The structure of the locking member is illustrated in FIG. 3 prior to insertion into the mica member 38. After the locking member 50 is inserted into the spacer 38, the tongue member 62 is bent over and deformed as illustrated in dotted lines to lock the locking member 50 to the spacer member 38 as is illustrated in FIG. 4.

The prong members 60 provide biasing surfaces which seat against the lower surface of the spacer 38. The tongue member 62 when deformed provided a locking member 66 which bears against the upper surface of the spacer 38. In this manner the locking member is secured or locked to the spacer 38.

This insertion and locking may be performed manually but in view of the relatively small size of the locking elements 50 the procedure is normally performed by machine so that the four locking members 50 are inserted and locked into this particular spacer 38 in one operation.

The electrode cage 12 is then assembled and the grids 20 and 26 are mounted into the apertures 52. The operator accurately positions the laterals of the two grids 20 and 26 with respect to each other and spot welds the side rods 22 and 28 to the body portions 58 of the locking members 50. The lead-in members 37 are normally welded at a later time and may be welded to the body member 50 as illustrated in FIG. 4 or to the side rods 22 and 28 where they extend beyond locking members 50 to provide suitable voltages to the electrode 28.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated a modified type of locking member 70 which includes a body member 58 and a tongue portion 62 extending from the body portion 52. The tongue portion 62 may be deformed as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 5 to clamp the locking member to the spacer 38. The locking member 70 is similar to the locking member 50 with the exception that the prong members 60 are not provided. The shoulders 73 provide the lower bearing surface.

In FIG. 6, there is illustrated another locking member which consists of a body member 58 with a tongue member 82 which extends from the body 58. The body portion 58 has bearing surfaces 33 which bear against the lower surface of the spacer 38. The tongue member 82 has wing members 84 which may be deformed as illustrated to bear against the upper surface of spacer 38 t and secure the locking member 80 to the spacer.

While there have been shown and described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, modifications thereto will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired, therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific arrangements shown and described and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. An electron discharge device comprising a plurality of electrodes including a grid electrode having two paral: lel support rods, upper and lower spacer plate members for maintaining the relative positions of said electrodes, said lower spacer member provided with apertures therein having an electrode receiving portion for receiving said side support rods of said grid and a keyway portion for receiving a locking member, said locking member com-. prising a body portion and a key portion, said key portion positioned within said keyway, said body portion having a greater cross-sectional area than said keyway portions and having surface portions bearing against one surface of said lower spacer member adjacent said keyway portion and said key portion having an extension thereon bearing against the opposite surface of said lower spacer member adjacent said keyway portion to lock said locking member to said spacer, said body portion secured to said side rod member to position and retain said side rod member with respect to said spacer member.

2. An electron discharge device comprising an electron mount assembly including an insulating spacer member, an electrode, said insulating spacer provided with a main aperture therein for receiving a portion of said electrode, said insulating spacer also including a keyway aperture connecting with said main aperture for receiving a locking member for securing said electrode to said spacer member, said locking member affixed to said electrode at a point adjacent said spacer member, said locking member having a key portion positioned within said keyway and a first and second portion extending from said key portion bearing against the upper and lower surfaces respectively of said spacer member for locking said locking membertube mount including an insulating spacer member, an

electrode, said insulating spacer plate member having an aperture and a first portion therein through which a portion of said electrode passes, means for securing said electrode in rigid engagement with said spacer member by means of a locking member afiixed to said support rod at a point adjacent said spacer member, said locking member comprising a body member and a tongue member, said body member including surface bearing portions bearing against a first surface of said spacer member, said tongue member having a key portion extending through a second portion of said aperture and said key portion having a deformable extension so that said extension bears against the opposite surface of said spacer member with respect to said first surface when deformed.

4. An electron discharge device comprising a plurality of electrodes including first and second grid electrodes, each of said grid electrodes having two parallel support rods and equally spaced lateral turns, upper and lower spacer members for maintaining the relative positions of said electrodes, said lower spacer member provided with a plurality of apertures therein, each of said apertures having a first portion for receiving one of said side rods locking member comprising a body portion and a tongue portion, said body portion having surface portions bearing against a first surface of said lower spacer member and said tongue portion extending through said second portion of said apertures and having surface portions bearing against a second surface of said lower spacer to secure said locking member to said spacer member, said body portion secured to one of said side rods to retain said side rod with respect to said spacer member.

5. An electron discharge device comprising an electron mount assembly including an insulating spacer plate member having first and second parallel surfaces, an electrode, said spacer member provided with an aperture having a first portion for receiving said electrode and a second portion for receiving a locking member, said locking member having a key portion positioned within said second portion of said aperture and a first extension portion of greater cross-sectional area than said key portion extending from said key portion and bearing against only the first surface of said spacer member and a second extension portion extending from said key portion and bearing against only the second surface of said spacer member to lock said locking member to said spacer plate member, said first and second extension portions securing said locking member to said spacer member, said first extension portion secured to said electrode to secure said electrode to said spacer member.

6. An electron discharge device comprising an electron tube mount including a planar insulating spacer member, an electrode support rod, said insulating spacer member having an aperture therein, said aperture having a first portion through which said electrode support rod passes, means for securing said support rod in rigid engagement with said spacer member by means of a locking member afiixed to said support rod at a point adjacent said spacer member, said locking member comprising a body member and a tongue member, said body member parallel to said support rod and secured to said support rod including surface bearing portions transverse to said body portion and bearing against first surface of said insulating spacer and said tongue having a key portion parallel to said support rod extending through a second portion of said aperture and, said tongue portion having an end portion transverse to said body portion and bearing against the opposite surface of said spacer member with respect to said first bearing surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,075,761 3/1937 Jackman 313-260 2,150,323 3/1939 Green 313-261 2,412,800 12/1946 Curtis 313-260 2,722,625 11/1955 Bingeman et al. 313-260 2,733,376 1/1956 Robertson 313-268 2,778,969 1/ 1957 Gartner 313-260 2,956,196 10/ 1960 Gartner 313-258 JOHN W. HUCKERT, Primary Examiner. A. J. JAMES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODES INCLUDING A GRID ELECTRODE HAVING TWO PARALLEL SUPPORT RODS, UPPER AND LOWER SPACER PLATE MEMBERS FOR MAINTAINING THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF SAID ELECTRODES, SAID LOWER SPACER MEMBER PROVIDED WITH APERTURES THEREIN HAVING AN ELECTRODE RECEIVING PORTION FOR RECEIVING SAID SIDE SUPPORT RODS OF SAID GRID AND A KEYWAY PORTION FOR RECEIVING A LOCKING MEMBER, SAID LOCKING MEMBER COMPRISING A BODY PORTION AND A KEY PORTION, SAID KEY PORTION POSITIONED WITHIN SAID KEYWAY, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A GREATER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN SAID KEYWAY PORTIONS AND HAVING SURFACE PORTIONS BEARING AGAINST ONE SURFACE OF SAID LOWER SPACER MEMBER ADJACENT SAID KEYWAY PORTION AND SAID KEY PORTION HAVING AN EXTENSION THEREON BEARING AGAINST THE OPPOSITE SURFACE OF SAID LOWER SPACER MEMBER ADJACENT SAID KEYWAY PORTION TO LOCK SAID LOCKING MEMBER TO SAID SPACER, SAID BODY PORTION SECURED TO SAID SIDE ROD MEMBER TO POSITION AND RETAIN SAID SIDE ROD MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID SPACER MEMBER. 